MovieChat Forums > North Dallas Forty (1979) Discussion > Question on the meaning of 'Forty'

Question on the meaning of 'Forty'

posted 10 years ago by Kenny1964
12 replies | jump to latest

What does the Forty stand for? Is it the number of total players on the team?

Thanks a bunch!

[–] ColoBK 10 years ago

It has to do with segregation going on in the 1960s in Texas. There is info about the name of the movie in the trivia section of the website.

[–] MyDarkStar 10 years ago

I read the explanation in the trivia section :

Source novelist and co-screenwriter Peter Gent once explained the story behind why the title 'North Dallas Forty' was chosen. In an email interview, Gent said: "I was shocked that in 1964 America, Dallas could have an NFL franchise and the black players could not live near the practice field in North Dallas, which was one of the reasons I titled the book 'North Dallas Forty.' I kept asking why the white players put up with their black teammates being forced to live in segregated south Dallas, a long drive to the practice field. The situation was not changed until Mel Renfro filed a 'Fair Housing Suit' in 1969."

...and I still don't understand where the word "Forty" comes from

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MyDarkStar 10 years ago

no, not really.

[–] hans_sulu 9 years ago

I believe it was because there were 40 players living in the North Part of Dallas

I'll just stand over here being happy

[–] Kenny1964 10 years ago

I finally found the answer:

"The football team was in North Dallas; NFL rosters were limited to 40 players at the time."

[–] wintersknight360 10 years ago

I used to be an over the road truck driver. I believe that Interstate 40 goes right by old Texas Stadium.

[–] showstoppa21 9 years ago

Interstate 40 is nowhere near Dallas. You must have been an awful truck driver.

[–] wintersknight360 9 years ago

I was thinking of I30. I40 is further north?

[–] Jakezen 9 years ago

I-40 goes right through Oklahoma City so it is about 250 miles north of I-20 which goes right through Dallas.

[–] cbane-922-635126 9 years ago

It's a play on the phrase "north forty" which refers to the northern most quarter of a 160 acre tract of land. 160 acres was the amount given out with the Homestead Act, so it's also getting a dig in on the land allotted to the black players at the time.

[–] UN_Jefferson 8 years ago

Also consider 40 a reference to Forty Acres and a Mule. When slaves were freed they were widely expected to legally claim 40 acres of land.